The American family's net worth, on average, rose about 6 percent from 2001 to 2004. But the median net worth-the midpoint that separates the top 50 percent from the lower 50 percent-barely rose, and remained less than one-fourth as large as the average.

MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications
6th Edition
ISBN:9781119256830
Author:Amos Gilat
Publisher:Amos Gilat
Chapter1: Starting With Matlab
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1P
icon
Related questions
Question

Family Values
The American family's net worth, on
average, rose about 6 percent from
2001 to 2004. But the median
net worth-the midpoint
that separates the top
50 percent from the lower
50 percent-barely rose,
and remained less than
one-fourth as large as
the average.
$500,000
400,000
300.000
200.000
Net worth of an
American family
100,000
2001
2004
2001
2004
MEDIAN
AVERAGE
Source: Federal Roserve
The New York Times
a) Why is the mean for each year so much larger than the corresponding median?
b) Between 2001 and 2004, the median American family's net worth remained unchanged.
However, the mean American family's net worth grew. What caused this to occur?
c) Based on skewness, was the mean the correct measure of center to use for discussing the
American family's net worth? Explain.
Transcribed Image Text:Family Values The American family's net worth, on average, rose about 6 percent from 2001 to 2004. But the median net worth-the midpoint that separates the top 50 percent from the lower 50 percent-barely rose, and remained less than one-fourth as large as the average. $500,000 400,000 300.000 200.000 Net worth of an American family 100,000 2001 2004 2001 2004 MEDIAN AVERAGE Source: Federal Roserve The New York Times a) Why is the mean for each year so much larger than the corresponding median? b) Between 2001 and 2004, the median American family's net worth remained unchanged. However, the mean American family's net worth grew. What caused this to occur? c) Based on skewness, was the mean the correct measure of center to use for discussing the American family's net worth? Explain.
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications
MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications
Statistics
ISBN:
9781119256830
Author:
Amos Gilat
Publisher:
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Probability and Statistics for Engineering and th…
Probability and Statistics for Engineering and th…
Statistics
ISBN:
9781305251809
Author:
Jay L. Devore
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Statistics for The Behavioral Sciences (MindTap C…
Statistics for The Behavioral Sciences (MindTap C…
Statistics
ISBN:
9781305504912
Author:
Frederick J Gravetter, Larry B. Wallnau
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (7th E…
Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World (7th E…
Statistics
ISBN:
9780134683416
Author:
Ron Larson, Betsy Farber
Publisher:
PEARSON
The Basic Practice of Statistics
The Basic Practice of Statistics
Statistics
ISBN:
9781319042578
Author:
David S. Moore, William I. Notz, Michael A. Fligner
Publisher:
W. H. Freeman
Introduction to the Practice of Statistics
Introduction to the Practice of Statistics
Statistics
ISBN:
9781319013387
Author:
David S. Moore, George P. McCabe, Bruce A. Craig
Publisher:
W. H. Freeman